"What shall it
profit a man — if he gains the whole world, yet
forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his
soul?" Matthew 16:26

That is putting the case in its most favorable light!
The
whole world is the largest possible gain. But suppose a man
does gain the whole world — it cannot keep him from trouble;
it cannot give him peace of conscience; it cannot
comfort him in sorrow; it cannot make a soft pillow for him when he is
dying; it cannot purchase Heaven for him when he is
gone!All that he can do with the world, after he has it — is to keep it
for a short time until he dies! He cannot carry any part of it
with him into eternity!

"How much did he leave?" asked one, referring to a
millionaire who had just died. "Every
cent!" was the reply. He left all. So
it is easy to see that there is no profit — but rather a
fearful and eternal loss, in gaining even all the world — at
the price of one's soul.

Then, think for how much smaller price than
'the whole
world' which many people sell their souls for!Some sell their soul for a few hours' guilty pleasure!
Some sell their soul for a political office!Some sell their soul for
filthy lucre!Some sell their soul for honor which fades in a day.
They are selling their souls also in many other ways — for
pitiable trifles. Like Esau, they are bartering their heavenly birthright
— for a
bowl of stew!

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Ah! that's the trouble. When the soul is lost — there is
no way of recovering it. When we have made our
choice, and lived our life, whether right or wrong — there is
no possibility of changing the results! Life is given to us
only once; and if we live it wrongly, there is no chance to
live it over again. A lost soul cannot be gotten back; it is
irretrievably lost!